Beginning on this past Day of Atonement, the Lord began to release revelation concerning both the "Eye of God" and " the eye of man". Since that time we have received additional revelations and understanding emphasizing the importance of the spiritual "eye" of man in this preparatory season that we are continuing. Through these revelations, the Holy Spirit has emphasized the great importance of allowing Him to identify and correct any distortions and hindrances that would effect our spiritual eye and inhibit our perfect view of Him and the revelation of kingdom purposes to be released in this generation. The following is a prophetic teaching that has resulted from these experiences.

THE EXAMPLE OF NATHANAEL

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit (no guile)! Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these. And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1:45-51)

The Bible depicts Nathanael as a man of great character and noble integrity. To be described as having "no guile" refers to one who is without deceit, fraud or hypocrisy. Such a description applies to one serving God in reverential fear with a sincere and upright heart. This would be considered a most honorable testimony as one walking in the light that is made available for that generation.

Nathanael was a man who studied the scriptures and emulated his life accordingly. He was a man who pursued God and desired truth. The Lord's description of him conveys this certainty. In him dwelt the earnest desire to behold the promised Messiah foretold in the scriptures.

The Lord captured Nathanael's attention by acknowledging that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree even before Phillip approached him. The Lord knew Nathanael even before he was conceived in his mother's womb. This one expression of the Messianic sign sparked life within Nathanael, bringing to life the Divine seed of life that dwelt in him before the foundation of the world. Nathanael recognized the sign that had been conveyed to him and ignited the faith of God.

The integrity of Nathanaels' heart allowed his spiritual eyes to easily recognize the Light that had come into the world. Because Nathanael had emulated his life according to the scriptures, his conscience was clear and his eyes open to the revelation of Light now being displayed to him. This is the example that we also must follow.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, discerning the very thoughts and intents of the heart. This sign given to Nathanael was the Messianic sign revealing the Word becoming flesh and the promised Prophet, dwelling among the people. There is no creature hidden from His sight and all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. He is none other than our Great High Priest, Jesus, the son of God.

The eyes of our heart must be enlightened to fully recognize the revelation of the Word. To be enlightened expresses "to be given light or shining illumination". It is used metaphorically of spiritual revelation with understanding and enlightenment. It literally means to be "full of light". Jesus was the manifestation of the Word incarnate in flesh and Nathanael recognized it because of the integrity of his heart and the clarity of his spiritual vision. In other words, the eyes of his heart were enlightened to the Truth. Every obstacle must be removed from our vision if we are to fully recognize the manifestation of the Word in our generation.

ANGELS ASCENDING AND DESCENDING

John records the beautiful picture of angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. This description not only applies to the Lord Himself but also to His body...the believers who would be joined with Him as one Spirit doing the same works through the Holy Spirit that He did while residing on the earth in human form. (John 14:12) It will be the fully functional, anointed body of Christ promised in scripture. When Jacob saw this image in Genesis 28, he described it as " the House of God" and the "Gate to heaven". It is the open heaven from which the Holy Spirit descends to rest upon the son of man imparting the divine nature and Holy character of God doing the deeds of the Father.

What a notable and wonderful promise made to Nathanael and the disciples! It would be their privilege to witness many supernatural occurrences as followers of Christ as they observed the example provided to them by the Lord during His earthly ministry. These promises are to the ones in whom there is no guile. Those who have allowed the complete sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in their spirit, soul, and body according to I Thessalonians 5:23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

OUR LAMP

The Bible tells us that the "eye" is the lamp of our body. The "eye" is a figurative expression denoting the heart, conscience or mind of man. Clearly, the "eye" may be either enlightened or darkened based upon actions and decisions that we make. The clarity of our "eye" determines the amount of light or darkness that we behold. It is imperative in this hour that we fully understand the significance of this spiritual truth. When our eye or our conscience is sound and spiritually healthy, then our entire body will be full of light. Yet, according to the scriptures, when it is not sound, our body is full of darkness. Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb. 10:22)

If there is no "guile" in our conscience, the scriptures promise that the Lord will be a light unto our feet directing our paths and establishing our steps. When our conscience/heart is illuminated we are able to walk the " straight and narrow path". We are washed by the Water of the Word.

LIGHT VS DARKNESS

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:19-21)

What is it that brings darkness into our "eye" and defiles our conscience, inhibiting the Light of God? Fear, rejection, condemnation, resentment and un-forgiveness are major obstacles obstructing the flow of light to us. The church is being positioned to enter a season of divinely granted repentance unlike anything we have known in this generation. Through repentance we will then initiate the process of cleansing our spiritual eye and conscience so that we can co-exist with the light of God that will shine in the midst of great darkness. The first phase is to bring our own deficiencies, failures and sin into the "Light" through repentance so they can be confronted through the blood of Christ, thus preparing our hearts for His divine release. "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

The Lord is seeking those who will love the Light more than darkness. If our hearts truly desire truth, we will willingly come into the light that our deeds may be exposed allowing the Holy Spirit to extract the seeds of corruption abiding in us. Though initially painful, the end result is bountiful fruits of righteousness and intimate fellowship with our Savior. The benefits far exceed the cost. Going as far back as Genesis Chapter 1, God has been separating light from darkness. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. (Gen 1:4)

This spiritual process continues as the Lord earnestly desires to separate light from darkness within us. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:4-5)

If we continue to allow our spiritual eyes to be darkened then we are actually residing in the domain of Satan rather than God. We must allow our consciences to be cleansed that the Light of God may flow freely in us and through us. To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.' (Acts 28:18)

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

The thunder from heaven represents the voice of God and His Spirit speaking through His church resounding throughout the earth. Lightning is symbolic of His power. The Lord is preparing to release in this generation great thunder and lightning through the "overcomers" being prepared for this demonstration. The "overcomers" will be those who no longer have a defiled conscience but whose eye has been cleansed by the blood of Christ prepared and sanctified for the indwelling Presence, thus bringing great illumination to them personally and to the corporate body.

The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His ordinances were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless with Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes. (Ps 18:20-24)

Righteousness is established in us as we are cleansed from the defilement and corruption of this world and the carnal nature. The Bible admonishes the wicked to forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. This admonition prepares the way for the purification from the corruption of our conscience allowing the unreserved flow of light to us. The Lord's statutes are the principles of conduct established for us as Christians and perpetuated in us by the empowering Presence of the Holy Spirit. All of His principles of conduct can be identified in one word-- LOVE. (Romans 13:10)

Sin is the defilement of our conscience. The longer we harbor sin in our lives the more misrepresented our light becomes and the more difficult it is to be extracted from us, thus making it much more difficult to recognize the sin that would so easily entangle us. Sin functions as a filter distorting the light of God intended to illumine our way. The path that we are to walk is straight and narrow requiring complete illumination to remain on the path. Any sin that would mask or distract from this light causes us to stray from the path leading to cul-de-sacs, detours, and dead ends.

The greatest promises of scripture are to those walking in maturity and established in righteousness. If we are to become the prophesied generation of the righteous, we must allow the Holy Spirit to illumine our path fully so that we do not embrace deception and deceit. The spiritual climate of this hour requires that we walk in great discernment distinguishing between Godly light and counterfeit light that will permeate this end-time age.

FREEDOM FROM HINDRANCES

In order to flow in the light of God, divine forgiveness must be allowed to reside in us.

One of the greatest tests of charity results when we are sinned against and must forgive and embrace those who have offended and wounded us. Deep seeded resentment is another great distraction leading away from the light of God. Even though we may forgive others for their actions against us, we must also be willing to embrace them in Godly love despite their offense. Extending forgiveness alone is not always sufficient. To walk in the character of Christ we must also embrace those who have sinned against us even as He embraces us at the Cross.

If we knowingly harbor resentment in our hearts for circumstances and actions that have taken place in our lives, we will then be providing the enemy with the ammunition to distract from God's perfect way. The Bible declares that the Lord has plans for us that are filled with divine welfare, not calamity. (Jeremiah 29:11) However, to enter those plans we must do so according to His prescribed way. His ways and paths are made clear by allowing the Holy Spirit to establish in us the attributes of Christ. Tests, failures and difficult circumstances are very often allowed to establish Godly character, preparing the way for the fulfillment of His plans.

For the joy set before Him, the Lord embraced the Cross although He despised its shame. We must do likewise. Although we despise the shame of past failures, difficulties and "desert experiences", we must embrace the benefits derived in them to allow the maturity in us that will prepare this generation for its high calling. The Lord despised the shame of the Cross but He did not resent going to the Cross for the benefits it would provide. The spotless Son of God endured the shame of the Cross, the most despised form of death known to man; we should be able to get beyond our shame to serve Him in bold confident assurance.

Guilt is another great hindrance to the flow of light from above. The "overcomer" will be willing to embrace divine mercy extended through faithful repentance with the understanding that our sins are no longer recorded in heaven once heart-felt repentance has brought the issue to the Cross. To continue in guilt over our transgressions will only inhibit our ability to function with an undefiled conscience and flow in His divine Light. When He promises to pardon our iniquity, it becomes sin to continue to harbor guilt over the very things He has promised to forgive. The greatest price imaginable was paid for our sins, transgressions, and iniquity. To continue in guilt over those failures would only detract from the great sacrifice provided by the Savior.

The Lord provided in the Apostle Paul a sterling example of His great grace extended to man. One of the greatest persecutors of the church became its greatest Apostle. If such forgiveness can be extended to him so also can it to us.

When our eye or conscience is clear, we will begin to see the revelation of heaven equally as clear. Any defilement of our conscience serves as a distortion of the vision of heaven and the clarity of God's purposes in the earth. If our heart is pure then the Lord will show Himself as pure. If our hearts are darkened then our perception of the character and plans of God will be correspondingly perverted. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. (Ps 18:25-26)

The Lord rewards us according to the cleanness of our hands. The scriptures direct us to come before the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart if we intend to ascend into the hill of the Lord. We must embrace the ways of the Lord and depart from our own ways as they distort and pervert our vision of Him. What the Lord did on the Cross is sufficient for all our sin and iniquity. To harbor guilt, resentment and self-abasement serves only as a distortion of the Light. None of the good and precious promises of scripture will be withheld from us when we become vessels of Light.

ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD EYE

Understanding is released when we have an undefiled conscious. Perilous times are eminently approaching and great darkness will soon cover the earth. However, for the consecrated and sanctified overcomer, it will be a time of tremendous Light and illumination. Revelation of the times and seasons will be imparted to those thus prepared.

The scriptures make it clear that we cannot serve two Masters. If we are to boldly come before the Lord in confident assurance, we must do so having no other God before Him. We cannot allow financial provision to take a position of preeminence in our hearts. It is the issues of the heart that are most important. There is nothing wrong with people having financial wealth as long as it does not supersede their love and commitment to the Lord. In fact, many will be raised up in this generation with tremendous resources to be used for Kingdom purposes. However, this one issue serves as a great stumbling stone defiling many with the love of the world and the things of the world.

Extravagant giving will also accompany those who have allowed this work of the Spirit. A "good eye" is generous; a "defiled eye" is greedy. A "defiled eye" harbors the love of money: a "good eye" shares with the needy. A thorough understanding of these principles is essential if we are to emulate the apostolic church revealed to us in the book of Acts.

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Cor. 4:6)

The greatest benefit of a cleansed and sanctified conscience is to begin to behold Him with an unveiled face being transformed into His very image. As we behold the glory of God in the face of Christ, we will begin to take upon ourselves the nature and character of the One we are beholding. Out of this transformation comes the intimate fellowship we so earnestly desire. Our ministry then results from an overflow of close encounters with the One we are serving. We will then be the Lord's representative on the earth doing the same works through the Holy Spirit that He did while on the earth in human form.

The very God who first commanded the light to shine in Genesis will also once again command great Light to shine in this generation. If we are to behold that Light in its pure form, spiritual preparation must precede its release so that it does not become distorted nor lost. Light is here identified as an emblem of spiritual knowledge, purity and truth emanating in the midst of darkness-- spiritual error, deception, sin, and wretchedness.

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